BMTN Info

Arrest made in case of 3 West St. Paul pharmacy robberies

Police say they made a dramatic arrest of a 38-year-old man after he fled a West St. Paul pharmacy he tried to rob Tuesday afternoon.

The Minneapolis ex-convict is also wanted in connection with armed robberies last week at a CVS drugstore and a Target pharmacy in West St. Paul, police say.

Police say they got a call about a robbery in progress Tuesday at the Walgreens at 1133 S. Robert Street, and they found Jason Lee Arden making an escape, the Pioneer Press reports.

An officer used his squad car to nudge the vehicle Arden was driving into a snowbank, and he then surrendered without incident, WCCO reports. Police thanked witnesses who made a prompt call to 911.

Police Lt. Brian Sturgeon said the suspect chose the wrong time of day for a robbery, the Star Tribune reported. “We had numerous callers … [reporting] this at the same time.”

Arden has a long criminal history, police say.

Police had been looking for the robber wanted in two similar robberies last week, including one Friday, when a man armed with a handgun went into the CVS at 1471 S. Robert St. and demanded prescription drugs.